Look at what a year can bring: In our previous personal database roundup ("Getting to First Database," October 16, 2001) we noted that QuickBase made setting up and sharing data over the Web easy, but it was not the most powerful program on the block. Well, not only does QuickBase now have advanced features that blur the distinction between a simple and complex database tool, but Intuit has also launched a high-end corporate version.

The only online database in our roundup, QuickBase is an interesting product for those who want to be able to access their databases from anywhere via the Web. It's also an attractive product if you'd rather have your information backed up automatically at a separate location. But a Web-based interface comes with inherent limitations, including the wait time involved with contacting the server for each interaction.

The two versions of QuickBase are QuickBase for Small Business (which starts at $14.95 per month with 10MB of storage) and QuickBase for Corporate Workgroups (which starts at $249 per month with 250MB of space). Both are completely browser-based, with no desktop components to install. The corporate version offers extra features such as a Sales Manager Application, which includes a complete set of charts and views for one of the most common database uses.

The corporate version also includes document management tools that greatly broaden QuickBase's scope. You can search the contents of attached files, including Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, as well as HTML attachments. QuickBase can also check in and check out files to prevent accidentally overwriting documents. In the next version, we'd love to see this checkout system automated. Currently, you must keep your own records of which databases you've checked out. File versioning automatically archives old versions of a file, so you can return to them if necessary.

If you're tired of looking at nothing but standard graphs, you'll appreciate how the new, simple-to-use graphing ability in the corporate version can turn your data into colorful charts with just a few mouse clicks. The corporate version also includes admirable administrative tools, such as the ability to add users, control permissions, and monitor the number and size of the group's databases from a single window. One new feature, hierarchical permissions, lets the administrator give a user permission to see and modify all the records of a given group.

The small-business version has not changed significantly since we evaluated it in 2001. Although it doesn't have the advanced features mentioned above, this version is a fine basic database for small offices. It lets you import data from tab-separated or comma-separated documents onlybut not from some other common formats. Customizing the look and position of fields is a snap. QuickBase offers a variety of templates for new databases, but you don't have the option of customizing forms, the way you can with the corporate version.

Ease of use is one of QuickBase's strong suitsa consequence of Intuit's flair for intuitive interface design. It took us only a few minutes of exploration to learn what tools were available, and after this, generating new charts and working with data was simple. In the unlikely case you can't figure something out, support is available via online FAQs and forums or by e-mail to the QuickBase support staff. Unfortunately, phone support isn't offered, even for corporate users.

There's no risk to trying the service, since anyone can sign up for a free 10K, one-database account. A 30-day trial corporate account is also available.

As a browser-based solution, QuickBase not only relieves you of the tasks of managing your database in-house, the advanced features in the corporate version have earned it a seat at the table with heavyweights such as Access and Alpha Five.

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About the Author

Troy Dreier is a technology writer and editor based in Jersey City, NJ. He’s the editor of OnlineVideo.net, senior associate editor for StreamingMedia.com, and a former staff editor for PC Magazine. He’s @tdreier on Twitter.

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